History of Baby Bear Hugs

As a result of growing mobility, young families in Yuma County did not have the support networks once relied upon by new parents. In addition, a problem unique to rural areas, that of isolation, was also true for these families. To address this problem Yuma County developed a universal, voluntary home visitation program using trained volunteers as visitors. The specific objectives of the visitors are to:

Establish rapport with the family

Build on family strengths

Identify obstacles to families growth

Listen to parents, develop a "partnership" with the parent provide support

Reinforcement and encouragement

Model appropriate behavior and attitudes

Provide a link to the larger community

Act as a liaison between the family and existing community resources

Teach parenting skills

The Baby Bear Hugs program was implemented in Yuma County in 1989.

In 1992 Yuma County received a Federal "Child Welfare Enhancement Grant". The purpose of this grant was to see if the successful Baby Bear Hugs program could be replicated in other rural areas. The goal was accomplished and the Regional Home Visitation Project, as it was known, established universal, voluntary home visiting programs in the 8 surrounding counties. The Federal Grant ended in 1995, but 7 of the counties along with Yuma County, decided to continue the regional concept. The program reorganized, elected a board of directors, and hired an executive director. Baby Bear Hugs received 501(c)(3) non profit status in January 1995 as the Regional Home Visitation Program, however we remain "doing business as" Baby Bear Hugs.

This universal level of support is considered primary prevention, and while it is successful with most of the population, there are families who have needs above and beyond what the volunteers are prepared for, or capable of handling. Since this may take more visiting time and further training, the situation is addressed through paraprofessional visitors. The paraprofessional visitor segment of the program was established in 1995. Visitors are more intensely trained in areas indicated by this population.

In order to promote the assimilation of the idea that communities are responsible for their people, not necessarily agencies, great care is taken to see that each county has local input. A local advisory committee consisting of members from the professional and parenting community guides each county. Collaboration with other agencies and individuals is very important as many program resources are donated. Each county coordinator has established donated office space. In some of the offices the facilities are donated along with other office amenities, such as use of fax machines, copy machines, and someone to answer the phone. This benefits the program financially as well as provides an on site contact with the program.

The board, staff, and advisory committee members met in November 2002 to review the goals and priorities of the organization. This group confirmed that the mission statement was relevant, viable and sufficiently broad to encompass the work of the organization. The group established the following Core Principles:

Over the years the Regional Home Visitation Program has received several awards. In 1998 we received the El Pomar Foundation Awards for Excellence in Youth Development. In 1998, 1999, 2002, and 2003 we received the Group Publishing Community Service Award for Outstanding Service to Improve Community Life in Northern Colorado.